Occupant propelled swing

ABSTRACT

A support member is provided for mounting in elevated position and the support member includes front and rear sides and opposite ends. Further, the support member includes longitudinally spaced anchor members to which the upper ends of a pair of depending flexible tension members are attached. A child&#39;&#39;s seat is supported from the lower ends of the tension members and a lever including upper and lower anchor points is provided and pivotally supported at its upper anchor point from the support member for angular displacement of the lever about a horizontal axis generally paralleling the support member and disposed appreciably forward of an upstanding plane containing the anchor members to which the seat supporting tension members are secured. The lever is of a configuration and weighted in such a manner that when the lever hangs free from its upper anchor point the lower anchor point thereof is spaced below and appreciably rearward of the upper anchor point, but forward of the aforementioned plane. The lever includes a depending pull member which is secured at its upper end to the lower anchor point of the lever and the lower end portion of the pull member is suspended slightly forward of and above the child&#39;&#39;s seat suspended from the lower ends of the tension member.

United States Patent 1 Sapienza OCCUPANT PROPELLED SWING Salvatore Sapienza, 133 Woodland St., Lawrence, Mass. 01841 [22] Filed: Jan. 2, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 429,713

[76] Inventor:

Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant ExaminerT. Brown Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Clarence A. OBrien; Harvey B. Jacobson June 17, 1975 [57] ABSTRACT A support member is provided for mounting in elevated position and the support member includes front and rear sides and opposite ends. Further, the support member includes longitudinally spaced anchor members to which the upper ends of a pair of depending flexible tension members are attached. A childs seat is supported from the lower ends of the tension members and a lever including upper and lower anchor points is provided and pivotally supported at its upper anchor point from the support member for angular displacement of the lever about a horizontal axis generally paralleling the support member and disposed appreciably forward of an upstanding plane containing the anchor members to which the seat supporting tension members are secured. The lever is of a configuration and weighted in such a manner that when the lever hangs free from its upper anchor point the lower anchor point thereof is spaced below and appreciably rearward of the upper anchor point, but forward of the aforementioned plane. The lever includes a depending pull member which is secured at its upper end to the lower anchor point of the lever and the lower end portion of the pull member is suspended slightly forward of and above the childs seat suspended from the lower ends of the tension member.

10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures SHEET PATENTEDJUN 17 1915 PATENTEDJUN 17 m5 SHEET Fig. 2

OCCUPANT PROPELLED SWING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There have been various prior swing constructions designed for use by small children. However, small children do not have the necessary coordination and strength to pump a conventional swing. Accordingly, in most instances swings designed for use by small children must be propelled by a person other than the child using the swing, or be of the motorized type of swing.

While there have been many different forms of motorized swings heretofore designed, these motorized swings are for the most part spring powered and thus must be rewound at relatively short intervals to maintain the swing in motion.

Although many small children would be wholly content to ride a swing for long periods of time, most previously designed swings for use by small children require either constant attention by another person if the swing is non-powered and at least occasional attention if they are spring powered for the purpose of rewinding the spring. Therefore, most previously provided swing constructions for children do not enable a small child to use the swing construction in an unattended manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The swing construction of the instant invention is constructed in a manner to provide a forwardly displaced pull rope immediately forward of and slightly above the seat portion of the swing and a pull rope or member is suspended from the upper portion of the swing construction in a manner such that even a small child with little coordination can grasp the pull member and propel himself in a swinging movement. Further, the pull member is also constructed whereby a child, after having a little experience in the use of the swing construction, may use the pull member to quickly terminate swinging movement of the seat portion of the swing construction. Still further, the swing construction includes structure whereby the suspension of anchor point for the upper end of the pull member may be adjusted along a front-to-rear extending horizontal path to compensate for use of the swing by children of different ages and sizes.

The main object of this invention is to provide a swing construction for small children and which is constructed in a manner whereby children of the prewalking age may propel themselves and the seat portion of the swing.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a swing construction in accordance with the preceding object and including means by which adjustments may be made to the swing construction so as to specifically adapt it for use by children of a specific size.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a swing construction with a seat structure suspended in a manner such that a small child supported from the seat structure will be cradled between the sides and the back of the seat structure in a slightly rearwardly inclined position so as to reduce the possibility of a small child falling out of the front of the seat construction.

An important object of this invention is to provide a swing construction in accordance with the preceding objects of the free standing type so that the swing construction may be used inside a home while supported from a flooring structure of the home.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a swing construction specifically adapted for support from a horizontal support member such as a low limb of a tree.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a swing construction in accordance with the preceding objects which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble-free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a free standing form of swing constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the swing illustrated in FIG. 1 taken substantially upon a plane passing transversely through the near side of the swing in FIG. I and with alternate positions of the swing seat and pull member of the swing illustrated in phantom lines;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating the manner in which the swing seat is supported from the tension members therefor so as to position the aggregate center of gravity of the swing seat and a child disposed therein slightly behind and below the points of attachment of the lower ends of the tension members to the seat;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a second modified form of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a further modified form of the invention specifically adapted to be supported from a low tree limb or the like.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the swing construction of the instant invention. The swing construction 10 includes an elongated generally horizontal support member 12 including opposite end generally inverted U- shaped leg assembles 14 and 16. Each of the leg assem blies 14 and 16 includes a pair of downwardly divergent legs 18 interconnected at their upper ends by means of a bight portion 20 and the midportions of the bight portions 20 are secured beneath the opposite ends of the support member 12. Further, a pair of downwardly and outwardly divergent braces 22 extend from each end portion of the support member and are anchored to the upper end portions of the corresponding legs 18.

The support member 12 is provided with a pair of longitudinally spaced anchor members 24 secured vertically therethrough and the upper ends of a pair of upstanding flexible tension members 26 are pivotally attached to the portions of the anchor members 24 projecting below the support member 12. The tension members 26 comprise link chain sections and the lower links 28 of the link chain sections are pivotally attached to the upper apex portions of triangular sides 30 of a seat construction 32 including a seat element 34 secured to and extending between the lower ends of the sides 30. In addition to the sides 30, the seat construction 32 includes an upstanding back rest portion 36 projecting upwardly from the rear of the seat element 34. From FIG. 3 of the drawings it may be seen that the aggregate center of gravity of the seat construction 32 and a small child seated on the seat construction 32 is disposed at a point 40 which is spaced below and rearward of the points 42 to which the lower ends of the tension members 26 are secured to the sides 30. Accordingly, a child disposed in the seat construction 32 is positioned in a backwardly inclined position.

The central portion of the support member 12defines a horizontal front-to-rear extending sleeve portion 44 through which a fastener 46 is secured. A support arm 48 is slidable through the sleeve portion 44 and includes longitudinally spaced apertures formed therethrough. The fastener 46 is secured through the sleeve portion 44 and a selected aperture 50 in order to secure the support arm 48 in front-to-rear longitudinally shifted position relative to the sleeve portion 44 and the support member 12.

With attention again invited to FIG. 1 it may be seen that the swing construction includes a lever 54. The lever 54 includes an upper anchor point 56 and a lower anchor point 58. The upper anchor point 56 is pivotally supported from the forward end of the support arm 48 for oscillation about a horizontal axis generally paralleling the support member 12 and the lever 54 is of a configuration and so weighted to assume'the position thereof illustrated in FIG..1 by gravity. An elongated flexible pull member 60 is disposed in upstanding position and has its upper end secured to the anchor point 58 and includes a handle-defining loop or the like 62 on its lower end. From FIG. 2 of the drawings it may be seen that the loop 62 is positioned slightly above and forward of the seat 32 when the components'of the swing are in their static positions assumed by gravity.

When a downward pull on the pull member 60 is exerted by a child disposed in the seat the lever 54 swings to a position with the anchor point 58 lying on a straight line extending between the handle-defining loop 62 and the anchor point 56. Thus, inasmuch as the anchor point 56 is disposed forward of the anchor members 24, a downward pull on the pull member 60 by a child disposed in the seat 32 tends to swing the seat 32 forward. A downward pull is alternately exerted on the pull member 60 in order to establish a full swinging motion to the seat 32. Also, when a full swinging movement is obtained and a child wishes to stop the swing, a downward pull is exerted on the pull member 60 during the rearward swinging movements of the seat construction 32. Of course, inasmuch as the seat construction 32 normally assumes a backwardly inclined position when a child is disposed in the seat construction 32, even a downward pull on the pull member 60 during a rearward swing will be insufficient to cause the child to fall from the forward portion of the seat construction 32.

The lever 54 of course functions to position the handgrip defining loop 62 of the pull member 60 immediately forward of a child disposed in the seat 32 whereby the handle defining loop 62 may be readily grasped.

With attention now invited more specifically to FIG. 4, there may be seen a modified form of swing construction referred to in general by the reference numeral 110. The swing construction 110 is also of the free standing type, but includes opposite end inverted V-shaped leg assembles 116 in lieu of the inverted U- shaped leg assemblies 14 and 16. Also, although the swing construction includes a support member 112 corresponding to the support member 12, the opposite ends of the support member 112 are secured to and supported from front-to-rear extending braces ex tending and secured between each pair of legs 118 of the leg assemblies 116 corresponding to the legs 18. The support member 112 includes a sleeve portion 144 corresponding to the sleeve portion 44 and a support arm 148 corresponding to the support arm 48 is also provided and includes apertures 150 corresponding to the apertures 50.

A lever 154 corresponding to the lever 54 is pivotally attached as at 156 to the upwardly projecting forward end of the support arm 148 and the upper end of a pull member corresponding to the pull member 60 is attached to the lever 154 at an anchor point 158 corresponding to the anchor point 58. Of course, the support member 112 includes anchor members 124 corresponding to the anchor members 24 and a pair of downwardly convergent tension members 126 corresponding to the tension members 26 have their upper ends secured to the anchor members 124.

By the foregoing, it may be readily appreciated that the operation of the swing construction 110 is substantially identical to the operation of the swing construction 10.

With attention now invited more specifically to FIG. 5 of the drawings, there may be seen a third form of swing construction referred to in general by the reference numeral 210. The swing construction 210 includes a support member 212 corresponding to the support member 12 but which is provided with clamps 213 on its opposite ends for clamping about a tree limb or other horizontal member such as a support pipe 215. Also, the support member 212 includes bores members 224 for receiving anchor members corresponding to the anchor members 24 and the central portion of the support member 212 includes a sleeve portion 244 corresponding to the sleeve portion 44 but which is suspended beneath the support member 212.

A front-to-rear adjustable support arm 248 corresponding to the support arm 48 is slidably supported from the sleeve portion 44 and may be secured in position relative thereto by means of a lock pin 249 secured through the mid-portion of the sleeve 244 and a selected horizontal transverse bore 251 formed through the support arm 248.

The forward end of the support arm 248 is bifurcated as at 253 and an anchor point 256 of a lever 254 corresponding to the lever 54 is pivotally supported between the furcations of the bifurcated end 253. Also, the lever 254 includes an anchor point 258 corresponding to the anchor point 58. Hereagain, the swing construction 210 operates in substantially the same manner as the swing construction 10. The adjustablility of the support arms 48, 148 and 248 enables the spacing between the corresponding pull members and the associated tension members by which the related seat structures are suspended to be adjusted. Greater spacing between the tension members and the pull members is used when a larger child is to use the swing. By forwardly shifting the support arms the corresponding pull ropes or members are not only spaced further from the associated swing seat supporting tension members but are also anchored, through the corresponding levers, to points spaced further forward of the anchor members. Thus, a larger and heavier child obtains the benefit of greater mechanical leverage when pulling on one of the pull members.

Although the points of attachment of the lower ends of the tension members 26 to the sides 30 of the seat 32 cause the seat 32 to be tilted rearward when a child is seated thereon, the sides 30 include seat belt sections 31 secured thereto at one set of ends and including releasably engageable portions on the other set of free ends, whereby a stronger child, perhaps capable of lifting himself from the seat 32 when pulling on the loop 62, may be strapped in the seat 32.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A swing construction including an elongated support having front and rear sides and opposite ends, said support having longitudinally spaced anchor means, a pair of depending tension members attached at their upper ends to said anchor means, a childs swing seat structure suspended from and between the lower end portions of said tension members, a depending pivot link including upper and lower anchor points, mounting means pivotally supporting the upper anchor point of said link from said support for angular displacement of said link about a horizontal axis generally paralleling and disposed substantially forward of a first vertical plane containing said spaced anchor means, an elongated upstanding flexible pull member secured at its upper end to said lower anchor point and freely depending, by gravity, from said lower anchor point with its lower end portion suspended slightly forward of said plane, said link being of a configuration and weighted such that when said link hangs free on said upper anchor point with said pull member suspended therefrom said lower anchor point is spaced substantially rearward of a second vertical plane paralleling the first plane and passing through said upper anchor point and forward of said first plane.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said mounting means includes means for generally horizontally adjustably shifting said horizontal axis along a front-to-rear extending path.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said seat structure is of a configuration and the lower ends of the tension members are anchored to the seat structure in a manner such that a child, when disposed in said seat structure, will be disposed in a slightly backwardly inclined position.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said tension members are downwardly convergent.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein the opposite ends of said elongated support include longitudinally aligned upstanding ring-type clamps for clampingly supporting the opposite ends of said elongated support for longitudinally spaced portions of a generally cylindrical support member.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said pull member and said tension members comprise elongated flexible tension members.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein the opposite ends of said elongated support include depending inverted U-shaped legs including upper bight portions from which the opposite ends of said support are supported.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein the opposite ends of said elongated support include depending inverted V-shaped legs, each of said legs including a horizontal transverse brace extending between intermediate portions of the downwardly divergent arms thereof, the opposite ends of said elongated support being supported from mid-portions of said braces.

9. The combination of claim 1 wherein said elongated support includes a forwardly projecting support arm centrally intermediate said anchor means, said mounting means comprising a pivot fastening means pivotally supporting said upper anchor point of said link from the forward end portion of said support arm.

10. The combination of claim 9 including means supporting said support arm from said support for adjustable lengthwise shifting of said support arm relative to said support. 

1. A swing construction including an elongated support having front and rear sides and opposite ends, said support having longitudinally spaced anchor means, a pair of depending tension members attached at their upper ends to said anchor means, a child''s swing seat structure suspended from and between the lower end portions of said tension members, a depending pivot link including upper and lower anchor points, mounting means pivotally supporting the upper anchor point of said link from said support for angular displacement of said link about a horizontal axis generally paralleling and disposed substantially forward of a first vertical plane containing said spaced anchor means, an elongated upstanding flexible pull member secured at its upper end to said lower anchor point and freely depending, by gravity, from said lower anchor point with its lower end portion suspended slightly forward of said plane, said link being of a configuration and weighted such that when said link hangs free on said upper anchor point with said pull member suspended therefrom said lower anchor point is spaced substantially rearward of a second vertical plane paralleling the first plane and passing through said upper anchor point and forward of said first plane.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said mounting means includes means for generally horizontally adjustably shifting said horizontal axis along a front-to-rear extending path.
 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said seat structure is of a configuration and the lower ends of the tension members are anchored to the seat structure in a manner such that a child, when disposed in said seat structure, will be disposed in a slightly backwardly inclined position.
 4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said tension members are downwardly convergent.
 5. The combination of claim 4 wherein the opposite ends of said elongated support include longitudinally aligned upstanding ring-type clamps for clampingly supporting the opposite ends of said elongated support for longitudinally spaced portions of a generally cylindrical support member.
 6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said pull member and said tension members comprise elongated flexible tension members.
 7. The combination of claim 1 wherein the opposite ends of said elongated support include depending inverted U-shaped legs including upper bight portions from which the opposite ends of said support are supported.
 8. The combination of claim 1 wherein the opposite ends of said elongated support include depending inverted V-shaped legs, each of said legs including a horizontal transverse brace extending between intermediate portions of the downwardly divergent arms thereof, the opposite ends of said elongated support being supported from mid-portions of said braces.
 9. The combination of claim 1 wherein said elongated support includes a forwardly projecting support arm centrally intermediate said anchor means, said mounting means comprising a pivot fastening means pivotally supporting said upper anchor point of said link from the forward end portion of said support arm.
 10. The combination of claim 9 including means supporting said support arm from said support for adjustable lengthwise shifting of said support arm relative to said support. 